Choosing God Instead of the World - Learning From the Lives of Jacob and JosephSýnishorn

Week 1

Read: Genesis 25:19–26; Isaiah 43:1

SOAP***: Isaiah 43:1

Now, this is what the Lᴏʀᴅ says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I called you by name, you are mine.”

Into the text

The Book of Genesis provides us with an account of the creation of the earth and God’s plan for redemption. Sin entered the world (Genesis 3), bringing many consequences for humankind. God promised to redeem the world from sin and its effects by sending a deliverer, one who would destroy the enemy and the curse of sin once and for all.

God used a family to bring His Son, Jesus, into the world to provide redemption for humanity. That family began with a man named Abram (later named Abraham). God promised to make Abram into a great nation, to give his descendants a land of their own, and to bless the world through his family. While Abram did not see these promises fully fulfilled in his lifetime, God continued to work out His purposes through Abram’s descendants. In this study, we’ll focus on the life of Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, and his family. Even though Jacob was not the firstborn, God chose him to be the one through whom He would fulfill His promises.

Jacob’s story begins in the womb, as he struggled with his brother, Esau. When Jacob was born, he was clutching Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob, a word similar to a Hebrew word meaning “to seize the heel, to trip up, to deceive.” Jacob literally seized Esau’s heel at birth, and he was known for the way he figuratively seized the heels of others through deception for much of his life. As we study the life of Jacob, we’ll see all the ways he deceived others for personal gain, both out of selfishness and fear.

God knew everything Jacob would do in his life, and He still chose him to be the heir to His great promise. God knew Jacob would be a deceiver. God knew he would waver in his faith and often choose the things of the world over the things of God. God also knew that Jacob would exercise great faith, that he would worship and follow Him, and that he would be the father of God’s chosen nation.

God chose an imperfect man, known for deception, and fulfilled His great promise for the world through his family. As the events of Jacob’s life unfold throughout our study, we are reminded of this truth: God always keeps His promises. He knows us intimately, formed us entirely, and loves us deeply. God desires our obedience and our faith, but nothing can thwart His purposes or keep Him from fulfilling His promises.

***As we study the Bible, we use the SOAP Bible Study Method. The acronym stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

1. Scripture. Write out the verses at least one time. Slow down and copy the passage from the text, focusing on what you are writing. Writing it more than once is always helpful.

2. Observation. Take time to observe the passage. What do you see in the verses you're reading? Who is the intended audience? To whom is the writer speaking? What cultural factors are at play? Are any words or themes repeated? What literary devices are being used?

3. Application. After carefully observing what is happening in the passage, determine the central message or truth of the passage. How can you apply this truth to your life?

4. Prayer. Pray God's Word back to Him. If He has revealed something to you during this time, pray about it. Confess any sin God has revealed. Pray through the truth of the passage.